The team at Congleton High School were delighted to learn that its popular Work Placement Coordinator, Jill Sadat-Shafai, had been named School Support Staff of the Year in the finals of the 2019 Cheshire Schools Awards held in Chester last week.
Jill was nominated for the award as a result of the fantastic work she does with students in Sixth Form and across the school. Along with securing work placements for students, Jill also seeks out a whole array of additional opportunities to enable them to learn more about the world of work and develop the skills and attributes required. This gives students a wide range of work experience and employability skills, which helps set them on the path for a successful career after leaving Congleton High School.
A group of Congleton High students and staff attended the awards with Jill and were able to share her elation when her name was called and she was presented with the award for School Support Staff of the Year 2019 by ITV Granada Reports presenter, Lucy Meacock.
Jim Barlow, Head of Congleton High, commented on Jill's achievement:
"We were thrilled to hear that Jill had won the Award and that her hard work and dedication had been recognised. The opportunities that she crates for our students really do help to give them a head start once they leave us for university, training or employment.
"Jill has forged strong relationships across our local business community in a broad range of industries and this enables us to offer the majority of students work placement and employment skills training in their chosen field. Congratulations to Jill from all of us at Congleton High School for this very much deserved Award"
The Cheshire Schools Awards proved to be a very successful day for the town, with the Eaton Bank Academy Podcast Team winning the Communication Award and Congleton High also shortlisted for the Secondary School of the Year Award.